Granulating apparatus



Jan. 2, 1945. N. A. HARRISON GRANULATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1945 INVE OR. M

N Jan. 2, 1945. N. A. HARRISON GRAN'ULATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed F'eb. 2, 1943 INVEN OR. -v

Jn. 2, 1945. N A HARRlsQN I 2,366,519

GRANLATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1945 5 SheetSSheet 3 `VENTRQ y Jan. 2', 1945. N. A. HARRISON GRANULATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1943` 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR,

Jan. 2, 19445. N A, HARRlsQN 2,366,619

' GRANULATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. Y2. 1943 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Patented Jan. 2v, `1945 :UNITED r .STATES PATENT 1 .OFFICE GRANULATNG APPARATUS i Norman AfHarrison, Dumont, N. J., assigner to f Jabez Burns & Sons, Inc., New YorkfN. Y., a 1 corporation of New York H i i g Application February 2, lsfiagseriaino. 474.435 101 claims. (elfen-4595 This invention relates to improved apparatus for granulating and .treating material and par` of large capacity, `as Well `as to smallmachines for use as store mills;

"The jmain object ofthe invention is to produce a machine wherein a definite quantity of Inaterial suppliedtheretovvill be discharged from the outlet in vthe 'same denite amount, or so closelyv thereto thatthe difference is not material, being` rolls lto provide room for the separation of rolls.` This extra space permitted the ground material to accumulate between the rolls Vand the casing. V

AThese accumulations caused excessive, vheating less thanone per cent. For example, if one pound of the material is fed'to the machine, it will deliver one poundfrom` the outlet `with 1an .insig`ifi--` cant variation therefrom. A machine of this type is desirable particularly in store mills where a weighed quantity of the roasted coifee beanxis supplied to themachineand the same Weight of requiring cleaning the machine at frequent rintervals,`.`and`prevented delivery 'from the machine of` the same weight of coffee 'as supplied. to the i machine. `Thepresent invention overcomes v these difiiculties by a special'relationship and mountf i in Figg 2. Two pairs of rolls are shown in the `granulated coffee is desired `to bedelivered therefrom. `Another object is'to avoid any,` appreciable machine of Figs. 1 t`o`4, an upperpair I3 and 13a,

`known as the crackervrolls,` and-a llower pair I 4 `*and 14a, known as the finishing rolls, the relationship of the rollspbeingparticularlyshown in i Mbgof the `roll Ii4a and, as vshown in Fig.. 1, the

to produce an efficient machine of compact form. i

Another object i s` to` produce'a formlof structure which willbe sturdyand durable under long co'nopposite ,end of `thisshaft is 'provided with a sprocket s gear Whichcin turn drives 'achain :I6 which drivesa sprocketwheel'onthe shaft I3b of one of the upper rolls. yApinion I'I onthe shaft tinued'use.l Otherobjects and advantages will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is aside elevation; FigfZ is an enlarged verticalfsection onthe line 2--2 of Fig.r1;fFi`g.`3 is a verticalsectiononthe-line'S-S of Fig. 2; Fig. 4`is on enlarged view onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 1. In

`each of these views theenclosingcover plates` are side view of -a modicationsshowingthe use of three pairs-of rolls.`

foreign'materialalso requiredthat the enclosing i easing should 'be spaced --sufficiently from the -I4b-drives1a gear Ila "on fthe -shaft I3c `of the cracker roll I3,.as.shown `in Fig.\4. This shaft` at its `opposite end has a sprocket fixed thereto .which in turn drives thechain IIa which engages a sprocket xed tothe shaft Mc of the roll I4.

The ratio of -thegearing is such that the cracker` roll `I3a is driven ata higher -speed ythan the cracker `roll I3; land the -nishing roll Ida `is driven` at a higher speed `thanthe finishing roll .As shownby the full line positions of the rolls in Fig. 3, .any verticalspacingbetween the up per andlower rolls is practically eliminated and the rolls. are so` `close -to eachother as `to provide" only clearance `betweenthe teeth of the `rolls.

This Aclose position between the upper and lower .rolls of each pair .isalways .maintained fixed fre-` gardless `of `whether the machine is operating normally or Whether the rolls of the `upper or `lowed `pair are 4passing foreign material. The

`closing ofthe vertical `spaeebetween the upper ,pair ofrolls andthe lower pair of rolls 4prevents any materialamount of theground coffee passing between themand backing up on the outside of the rolls. This close relationship between the upper and lower rolls is accomplished by pivoting one of the finishing rolls on the shaft of its corresponding cracker roll and by pivoting the other cracker roll on the shaft of the other finishing roll. In this manner the clearance space between the upper and lower rolls is maintained constant during the passage of foreign material because each pivotally supported roll may then swing about the fixed axis of its related roll. Yieldable means is provided for maintaining the rolls in their normal positions and for permittmg one roll of each pair to swing outwardly when any foreign material passes between the rolls.

The structure for accomplishing this result is particularly shown in Fig. 2 wherein the axis ofv the roll I3 and its shaft I3c is fixed; and shaft I 3c is provided with ball bearings I8 at its two ends. A bearing seal I8a is provided at opposite ends of the roll and a bearing seal ISb is provided at the outside-of each bearing. Spacing sleeves I8c on the shaftI are held in place by the spacer nuts I8d on threaded portions of the shaft. A

bearing housing I9 encloses these parts at the right of Fig. 2 and a bearing housing I9a encloses the similar parts at the left of Fig. 2. The housing I9 also serves as a hub for pivotally supporting a hanger 2U, the lower end of which forms a bearing housing for the right-hand end of the lower roll shaft I4c.v The two ends of the shaft I 4c are provided with ball bearings, bearing seals, bearingr spacers and spacing nuts corresponding to those described with reference to the `upper shaft I3c and are designated by the same reference numbers. The bearing housing I9a also serves as a hub for pivotally-supporting the hanger 20a, the lower end of which forms a bearing housing for the left-hand end of the shaft I4c, The lower roll I4 is thus pivotally supported so as to enable it to swing outwardly and inwardly about the axis of the upper roll I3. The openings in the housing end plates I2 and I2la for the passage of the shaft I4c are enlarged in the direction of movement of the swinging roll; and these openings are closed by plates 2I fitted on thel of the ground material and are maintained in place by dished spring plates 2Ia interposed between the plates ZI and the bearing seals I8a.

The shafts I3b and |41)` of the rolls at the left .fof Figs. l and 3 are similarly journaled and housed, but instead of the lower roll being mountecl to swing about the upper roll, the situation is reversed and the upper roll I3a is mounted to swing about the lower roll I4a, the axis of which is i'lxed. As these parts are a duplication of those described with reference to Fig. 2, except, as to the reversal of the swinging relationship, they need not be particularly described or shown.

As shown in Fig. l, an extension 22 projects downwardly from each of the bearing housings 20 and 20u of the shaft |40 and these extensions are threaded to receive adjustable bolts 22a, as more fully shown in Fig. 4. The inner ends of these bolts engage abutments 22h formed on the end plates I2 and I2a. Adjustment of the normal innermost position of the swinging roll I4 with reference to the fixed roll I4a is thereby obtained. Similarly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bearing housings of the upper swinging roll I3aare provided with extensions 22 and adjustable bolts 22a which seat against abutments 22h on the end plates for limiting the inner position of the roll I3a with reference to the xed roll I3.

The lower roll I4 is yieldably maintained in its normal position by a pair of springs 23. The inner end of each of these springs presses against the side of its respective bearing housing and the outer end of each spring seats against the inner end of an adjustable bolt 23a which is mounted in a bracket 24 of U form, forming a part of roll housing II. When any foreign material, such as a bolt, passes between the lower pair of rolls, the roll I4 will be forced outwardly against the pressure of the springs 23 swinging about the axis of the fixed roll I3 as a center; and Vafter the passage of the foreign material, the swinging roll will be returned to its normal position by the pressure of the springs. During this action the spacing between the lower roll I4 and `the upper roll I3 is maintained constant by reason ofthe pivotal movement of one roll about thev other. This avoids the enlargement of the spacing between these rolls during the passage .of

any foreign material and thereby prevents the ground material from passing between the upper and lower rolls and backing up around the outside of the rolls. Similarly the upper swinging roll I3a is yieldably held in its normal position by the provision of corresponding springs 23, adjustable bolts 23a and brackets 24 at each end of the shaft of the roll I3a. When any foreign material passes between the upper pair of rolls, the roll I3a is thereby enabled to swing outwardly about the axis of the lower roll I4a without changing the spacing between the upper and lower rolls. Thus, referring to Fig. l, the passage of any foreign material between the upper pair of rolls causes theupper left-hand cracker roll to swing outwardly and the passage of the foreign material between the lower pair of rolls causes the right-hand finishing roll to swing outwardly.

The main frame housing II is open at the two sides of the rolls andthe rolls are enclosed at the sides by a pair of yieldable roll closures. They closely embrace the sides of the rolls and under normal conditions the spacing of the closures from the rolls is only suflicient for clearance. This prevents the formation of any spaces or pockets for the accumulation of any ground material. When any foreign material passes bef` sure is forced outwardly by the roll; and afterv the passage of the foreign material, the roll closure is returned to its normal position. The

vstructure for accomplishing this purpose is paroutside of the roll I3 and projects inwardly be-` tween the rolls I3 and I4 and also closely embraces the roll I4. A lower portion 25a of the closure extends over a portion of the housing and a seal 21 of felt or other material is interposed between the parts. The width of the closure 25, as shown in Fig. 4, is sufficient to cover the sides of the rolls. A roll closure spring 28 is interposed between the lower portion of the closure -25 and a saddle 29 which is fixed in position and removably carried at its ends by a pair of notched lugs 29a which extend from the The closure `tionecl between an upper f33. This abrio'rnfial'position` of i swung `outwardly `the pressure of the `any of the parts being controlled `by egetegtie oase thefeiosurefisjpivotedardite iowereriei on The upper endbf the housi'n'eby the-hinges'l. A thisclosure oarriesan'extension 39a which engages aidownward extension onitlie housing with an intervening seal 32. A `spring "33 is posip'oi'tion of the closure 30 anda saddlei34'which isrernovablysupported i The 'shaft `of the at itsenos iiinoteiied lugs .34o extending from the `upper `pair of brackets w2li, l as indicated `in Flg. 1.

i ,vReferririgfto Fig; 3, when anyforeign "hiaterialpasses lbetweenlthe upper pair of rolls, the

roll 13d is` forced tothe left 'on the laxis of the roll Matras aeenter, as alreadyexplained and therollforcesthe closure 3B to the left about its pivot l3| Aagainst the pressure of :the springr s i the parts is shown bythe dottedlines` `inliiig. 3. After the passage of the foreign material, the roll mais forced `roll the manner the bearing` housing `of the Vlower left-hand `'already described. This permits the fniiddIe-roll "M `to owing outwardly on the airis ofthe Flower roll as" a center-for permite ting vthe A'passaige vvof foeignflnaterial `between the i `iiiidtiiepeut of r'olls. vThe aiiisofthe lower leftli'and roll 45 is '46 has `its, Shaft i'nolitd ina bearing which is carried byfa `hani'rer r'4'1 which is pivotally *mount- `ed-orithe'loearinghousing 2:"2 of dieron 113. when any fo'rign jnia'terial passes between "the lower pairfof trolls-.the roll 4B `is 'forced voutwardly on'the yaxis of theroll t3 asa center. Fig. 5 shows in 4iottieii iines the abnofmei `position 'of Vtheioiie to its normal position by its springsZS; andthe closure 3!) is returned "to its normalpositionby the spring 33. When the foreign lmaterial passes between the 4lower pair of rolls, the roll i4 `.is

` `with the exis of dieron 'i3 as a center and in turn forces the lower portion of thez'clcsu're 25`outwardly`on its pivot 26 against 4spring 28; The abnormal Dositionof vthe closure 25 and the 11`ol1"lli is` showin by `dotted lines in Fig/3. "Afterithe passage of the foreign material, the roll springs'iland the roll closure spring 2 8 return the parts to their normal'position.` .i It is apparent by this improved structure that there are no spaces or pockets for the-accumulation of granulated material, whether the mill is operating normally or 'whethen the parts are swung on their pivots during the passage otroreign material. Likewise there are no spaces through which the ground materiarmay pass from its normal course and thereby any tendiio ency of the material to pack up or to separate Y -larly desirable for store use where the ung'round materia is niet weighed and then oeiivered to the customer after grinding. `As no rnaterial can aocurnula'te in the rnaohine'it avoids thenecessity of the dismantling `and `frequent cleaning. of

the parts.

1 Referring to theemaining portions ofthe ep;

paratus, afeed hopper 35 is shown mountedon the top of the main housing frame, the feed` la feed shut-ofi slide 35a. Within the base mil iently housed for driving the arms Si. "These arms are rotated bythe motor' and receive the material as` discharged from "the `iiiiiShing; rolls and force it outwardly through the discharge spout 38. `As these 4 present invention,"they need notfbe particularly described. i i

Although the improvement `has been particularlyshown and described with reference to the Ause of twopairsl of rolls, number of roll pairs.` Figs. 5 'and 61 show the relative mounting and relationship of the rolls -when three pairs are used. Referring to Fig. 5, the upper left-hand roll 39 is mounted on'l a shaft parte `rom no port of die it is applicablefto any It *will befuhderstood that 'the pivotally i means `for rotating. *the for permitting the @passage of foreign partfsslhown 'in- Figs. l5 rand 6 are to Abe `provided `with roll closure 'springs and that yieldable roll 'closures `would'likewisebe provided inthe manner i described with reference to Figs. `-1 to 4.

Although Daitio'ular tion have'bni'dislo's'ed, it 'vvillbef understood Vthat various l'modi'fictitious and adaptations oftheinvntion'nayb'einade' without depaitin'gfroih :thf'scope "of thihvltion. i i

' I claim: y t d "1. A `machine `for"granulating `coffee andthe like, comprising a pluralityofpairs of rolls, said `pairs of. rolls being elosely positioned drivingr 4eaoh pair havingi-"a l"hired axis, and "means 'for yielably supportingr the other `roll ofeach pair to `b'e `moi/"able1in an arc then displaoedfroin normal position the enter 61" Said i `arc `being the 'a'is lof the "roll of the "other pair having the `Ifixedaxis. i l

2. A machine for granulating coiee `"and the 1i1`e,"`ooiripri'si1'ig'apluralityfairs of rolls', Said pairs loi" rolls beingr closely "positioned driving VIhals for rotatinglthe "rolls, oiefroll'of each pair liavinga *'fxed axis,` means vfor pivotally supporting the other roll 4of Wll'h udisplaced froinnblfnal poSitinQthe Center pivotally supthe irst"`1'ian1ed pair, driving means for rotating the rolls, one -roll of the -upper pair-"and a diagonally opposite "roll of the lower pair having Xed axes, means-for movable in an having the "iix'ed jaxis;` 'means Afor other roll-"of tlie lower'pairto be movable inan *arc `when displaced from" normal position, the center bfisaid latter arcbein'g the axis of the and yieldabie means for maintaining` the movably supported rolls in normal cooperating position with the rolls having the fixed axes` 4. A machine for granulating coiee and the supporting the 'which i is vpivotally mounted on i fixeiferidtiie lower rigiitihand roll y material. mounted i embodiments ofthe invenforpatioula'r requirements y Ieach pair to be'niovable porting the other roll of the upper pair to be movable when displaced from normal position, the center of said movement being the axis of the roll of the lower pair having the fixed axis,

means for pivotally supporting the other roll of the lower pair to be movable when displaced from normal position, the center of which movement is the axis of the upper roll having the fixed axis, and yieldable means for maintaining the movably supported rolls in normal cooperating position with the rolls having the fixed axes.

5. A machine for granulating coffee and th like, comprising a pair of cooperating rolls side by side, a second pair of cooperating rolls closely positioned below the rst named pair, driving means for rotating the rolls, bearing supports for one roll of the upper pair having the axis thereof xed, bearing supports for the diagonally opposite roll of the lower pair having the axis thereof xed, bearing supports for the other roll of the upper pair pivotally movable on the bearing supports of the lower roll having the xed axis, bearing supports for the other roll of the lower pair movable on the bearing supports of the upper roll having the fixed axis, and yieldable means for Vmaintaining the pivotally supported rolls in normal cooperating l.position with the rolls having the fixed axes. v

6. A machine for granulating coffee and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating rolls side by side, a second pairof cooperating rolls closely positioned below the first named pair, driving means for rotating the rolls, one roll of the upper pair and a. diagonally opposite roll of the lower pair having fixed axes, means for supporting the other roll of the upper pair to be movable in an arc' when displaced from normal position, the center of `said arc being the axis of the lower roll having the xed axis, means for supporting the other roll of the lower pair to be movable in an arc when displaced from normal lposition, the center of said latter arc being the axis of the upper roll having the fixed axis, yieldable means for v maintaining the movably supported rolls in normal cooperating position with the rolls having the fixed axes, a main housing, said housing having openings opposite the movably supported rolls, a yieldable closure for one of said openings closely covering portions of the roll of the upper pair having a 'fixed axis and a portion o f the movable roll of the lower pair and movable thereby when displaced from normal position, and a second yieldable closure for the other of said openings closely covering portions of thelower roll having the fixed axis and of the upper movable roll and movable thereby when displaced from normal position.

7. A machine for granulating coffee and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating granulating elements, means for mounting one of said elements to be displaceable from the other of said elements for the passage of foreign material between said elements, a main housing, said housing having an opening opposite the said displaceable element, a closure for said opening covering a portion of said displaceable element, and means for yieldably supporting said closure, said displaceable element being movable towards said, closure upon the passage of foreign material be' tween said elements for reducing the space between said element and said closure, said closure being forced outwardly from its normal positiony by such movement.

8. A machine for granulating coffee and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating rolls side by side, means for mounting one of said rolls to be displaceable from the other upon the passage of foreign material between the rolls, a main ,housing said housing having an opening opposite the displaceable roll, a closure for said open` ing closely covering a, portion of the displaceable roll, and means for yieldably supporting said closure, said displaceable roll being movable towards said closure upon the passage of foreign material between Said rolls for reducing the space between said displaceable roll and said closure, said closure being forced outwardly from its riormal position by such movement.

9. A machine for granulating coffee and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating rolls side by side, a second pair -of cooperating rolls closely positionedbelow the first named pair, driving means for rotating the rolls, means for support ing one roll of each pair to be displaceable from the other roll of'each pair for the passage of yforeign material between the rolls, a main housing, said housing having an opening opposite each of said displaceable rolls respectively, closures for said openings respectively covering portions of said displaceable rolls, and means for yieldably supporting said closures, said displaceable rolls being movable towards said closures respectively upon the passage of foreign material between the rolls for reducing the space between said rolls and closures, said closures being forced outwardly from their normal positions by such movement.

l0. A machine for granulating coffee and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating rolls side by side, a. second pair of cooperating rolls closely vpositioned lbelow the first named Ipair, driving means for rotating the rolls, one roll of the upper pair and a diagonally opposite roll of the lower pair having a fixed axis, means for supporting the other roll of the upper pair to be mov- .able in an arc when displaced from normal position, the center of said arc being the axis of the lower roll having the xed axis, means for supporting the other roll of the lower pair to be movable in an arc when displaced from normal position, the center of said arc being the axis of the upper roll having the fixed axis, yieldable means for maintaining the movably supported rolls in normal cooperating position with the rolls having the fixed axes, a main housing, said housing having openings opposite the movably supported rolls, closures for said openings covering portions of said movable rolls respectively, and means for yieldably Supporting said closures, said movably supported rolls being movable towards said closures respectively upon the passage of foreign material between the rolls for reducing the space between said rolls and cl-osures, said closures being forced outwardly from their normal positions by such movement.

NORMAN A. HARRISON. 

